Synonyms of hopeful

hopeful 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhōp-fəl 

1

as in promising

having qualities which inspire hope

economists are offering a hopeful forecast for a healthy economy in the coming year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promising
• optimistic
• bright
• encouraging
• likely
• upbeat
• heartening
• rosy
• propitious
• auspicious
• golden
• positive
• fair
• reassuring
• confident
• favorable
• good
• sure
• roseate
• rose-colored
• comforting
• doubtless
• assured
• decisive
• soothing
• cheering
• bullish
• unhesitating
• beamish
• eupeptic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unlikely
• desperate
• pessimistic
• hopeless
• discouraging
• dark
• gloomy
• bleak
• depressing
• dismal
• unpromising
• disheartening
• dreary
• uncertain
• doubtful
• inauspicious
• cheerless
• dubious
• negative
• downbeat
• unpropitious
• grim
• comfortless
• unfavorable
• unencouraging
• gray
• miserable
• bearish
• glum
• wretched
• funereal

2

as in encouraging

pointing toward a happy outcome

in a hopeful response to the ad, several people called to say they'd seen our lost cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promising
• encouraging
• favorable
• bright
• happy
• lucky
• golden
• heartening
• propitious
• fortunate
• auspicious
• beneficial
• profitable
• prosperous
• advantageous
• fortuitous
• providential
• salutary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hopeless
• discouraging
• unfavorable
• unpromising
• disheartening
• dim
• unfortunate
• unhappy
• inauspicious
• unpropitious
• unlucky
• disastrous
• fatal
• catastrophic
• futureless
• calamitous
• ominous
• dark
• ruinous
• gloomy
• ill
• sinister
• threatening
• dire
• menacing
• portentous
• foreboding
• baleful
• direful
• minatory
• doomy
• ill-boding

hopeful

2 of 2

noun

as in candidate

one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award

the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV

Synonyms & Similar Words

• candidate
• contender
• expectant
• applicant
• prospect
• aspirant
• campaigner
• seeker
• nominee
• competitor
• contestant
• favorite
• entry
• qualifier
• entrant
• applier
• claimant
• favorite son
• crown prince
• pretender
• spoiler
• dark horse
• running mate
• stalking horse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incumbent
• officeholder
• noncandidate
• awardee
• honoree
• inductee
• dropout

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hopeful

Adjective

Austria has selected Berlin Film Festival winner Rose, which stars Sandra Hüller, as its International Oscar hopeful. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

On a scale of 1-5, 97% of students gave the program a 3 in helping people at their school feel more connected, supported and hopeful. — Julianna Mejia, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

Today, to qualify for a CEP grant, hopefuls must show popular support by raising a sum specified for their office in contributions between $5 and $340 and a number of donors must be future constituents. — Elona Vaisnys, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

Both De Jesus and Singleton should be considered practice squad hopefuls. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026